# Best Translation of "The Counto of Monte Cristo"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-translation-of-the-counto-of-monte-cristo/648932 "2013-01-31T17:37:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-translation-of-the-counto-of-monte-cristo/648932/1 "2013-01-31T17:37:55Z")
Looking to replace my tattered old paperback and wondering what is regarded as the best translation of “The Count of Monte Cristo”? I’ll probably be replacing/updating all my Dumas before long, so if there are good newer translations of any others, I’d love to hear opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-translation-of-the-counto-of-monte-cristo/648932/2 "2013-01-31T19:25:27Z")
When I got my Kindle, one of the first books I bought for it was _The Count of Monte Cristo_ in the [Penguin Classics edition](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RI9KL8/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title), because it was only $0.99 at the time (now it’s up to $4.70) and because I could appreciate how much easier the book was to hold and carry on a Kindle than as a physical, \>1000-page volume. Anyway, that was the Robin Buss translation, which I thought was just fine, though I haven’t read any other versions to compare it with. One of the Amazon customer reviews, however, says > [@](#): > > The Count of Monte Cristo is my favorite book, and I’ve read several translations, both abridged and unabridged. > > TRANSLATION > The Buss translation is the most modern, and reads most fluidly. That review was written in 2007, though, so a better translation could have come along since then. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-translation-of-the-counto-of-monte-cristo/648932/3 "2013-01-31T19:59:17Z")
Most editions are of the anonymous 19th c. translation, which bowdlerises the drugs and lesbianism angle, and contains too many of those ‘_said he_’ and ‘_cried she_’ literary inversions of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-translation-of-the-counto-of-monte-cristo/648932/4 "2013-01-31T20:14:55Z")
Spiffing! Thank you - I will certainly get the Buss translation. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an unabridged copy. Shows I need to replace my old editions more often. More drugs and sex is good - I always felt like there should be some but did not realize it had actively been cut out. I recently read “The Black Count” and it reminded me that it had been too long since I hit the Dumas. I will enjoy reading them again with the biographical background in mind. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-translation-of-the-counto-of-monte-cristo/648932/5 "2013-01-31T20:31:28Z")
The one without the _o_ at the end of _Count._ Feel free to tell me to [fucko off](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=176917). ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-translation-of-the-counto-of-monte-cristo/648932/6 "2013-01-31T21:52:17Z")
Thanks for the recommendation! I found this review of the Buss translation: > [@](#): > > Highly recommended. As translator Robin Buss points out in his introduction, many of those who haven’t read The Count of Monte Cristo assume it is a children’s adventure story, complete with daring prison escape culminating in a simple tale of revenge. There is very little for children in this very adult tale, however. Instead, the rich plot combines intrigue, betrayal, theft, drugs, adultery, presumed infanticide, torture, suicide, poisoning, murder, lesbianism, and unconventional revenge. > [http://www.slywy.com/the-count-of-monte-cristo/](http://www.slywy.com/the-count-of-monte-cristo/) Sounds like my kind of book!